Saturday, July 29, 2017

Highway 20 reopened last night 6 pm so loading car and will head south towards Williams Lake, planning on stopping there for a bit of produce then west towards home. Will be tough seeing all the fire damage especially the big Hanceville-Riske Creek fire (still burning) but now not so close to the road. When I left home thought I might only be gone 3-4 days, over stayed my welcome with BJ and Jim. Was either here or shelter in one of the big evacuee camps. Ever so glad to have been here but time to go. Will likely still be on evacuation alert, with temps predicted to be high and hot (33C-91F) for a couple days next week will push fire rating back to extreme.

Was glad to have had my spinning wheel with me, finished a braid of BFL, spun fairly fine, will do second braid of same stuff and eventually ply it and will make myself socks (to forever be called my refugee socks).

Monday, July 24, 2017

Still staying in PG waiting for two sections of highways to open, highway 27 is still closed from Williams Lake to McLeese Lake and WL still empty because of the evacuation order there, highway 20 heading west from WL still closed and that is the only way home for me.

Working on second sock for Nolan, sock for Kristie and spinning some everyday. Didn't come close to getting the yarn spun I wanted for the T d F, for some strange reason evacuation plays head games. But I have felt safe and away from the fires and especially the smoke filled air. The fire known as the Hanceville-Alexis Creek is now the largest so far this fire season. It's a Mell of a Hess.

Thursday, July 20, 2017

Left home Sunday morning, due to RCMP roadblocks in various places only made it Avola stayed two nights with Fay and Monty. Then Tuesday headed north for Prince George, staying with a spinner friend (met at OFFF) several years ago she & husband were there shopping. The town of PG has done a wonderful job assisting evacuees (over 9000), discounts on lots of stuff.

I brought my spinning wheels (both Louet S90's) so got the one set up and started spinning a dyed BFL. Felt good to be sorta back to almost normal stuff. Also brought knitting of course, several pair of socks on the go. BJ has several skeins of Wollmeise that I am interested in (if'n I can afford it). After seeing her stash there is no way I could ever run out of either spinning fibre or yarn.

Wednesday, July 12, 2017

Power went out just after noon last Saturday, followed shortly thereafter by phone service (and of course no cell service out here). Approximately 78 hours, and I counted every single one. No power meant no water pump, being so very careful and only using it to wash my hands after, I did make it thru. No shower, dishes or laundry etc. Power poles (and I am assuming telephone poles) burnt in one of the bad fires east of me. Fires on Highway 20 in both directions west at Kleena Kleene and several east including a biggie around Williams Lake, they are on evacuation alert now for two or more days. Road in and out of town have been closed. Power came back up yesterday (Tuesday) around 5:30 pm, relief. I certainly appreciated my shower last night, even washed my hair twice. The smoke in the valley was a bit difficult to get around, kept all windows shut but could still smell it. And wonder of wonders thunderman and lightfoot expected to visit the area later today, hopefully lightening won't start to many new fires.

Because I can keep busy with things that don't require power, spinning, knitting and reading, finished 2 books in the almost 4 days, got started spinning the next go round for the T d F, a BFL-Silk mix, and am at the heel on second sock for Kristie H. The first T d F bobbins of merino-nylon, second pix the BFL-Silk mix (first 4 oz nearly finished).

Along with the almost camo that I just finished have 10 other bobbins in the plying queue, all with a theme here, all in various shade of greens.

I need to get into town as soon as it is safe to do so, out of milk, bread, all produce, oj, and much more. Will wait until fires around WL are under control, hopefully that won't take until the snow flies.

Monday, July 3, 2017

Company arrived just as I thought I might finish the first bobbin, not to be. Instead waited until yesterday to do so. They came so boys (now 15 and almost 18) could fish in the river, they both had license and river is legal for rainbows on July 1, both with worms as bait caught their limit, even Mom and Dad had their limit, fish cleaned and packed in ice to take home. They did bring lunch, fresh sub buns, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese and 5 kinds of deli meats. Most was all eaten before they left, had enuff rosemary ham for breakfast, scrambled with eggs. Oldest young man was a straight A student and will be off to MacGill for Univ next month.

So the finished T d F, using a merino-nylon blend from Kinfolk Fibre from Vancouver, I call it camouflage. Once the second bobbin is finished the singles will go into plying queue. Day 1 on the left. Have another 4 oz of the same fibre and will start on it today.

Saturday, July 1, 2017

Day 1 of the TdF, have nearly half a bobbin of a variegated light green merino-nylon, if'n it doesn't get to hot should come pretty close to finishing bobbin today (about 6-8 oz). And ta da have 8 empty bobbins 4 of the regular and 4 for my Woolee Winder, enuff I hope to see me thru.

The big washout is repaired, road reopened noon yesterday, I wouldn't want to guess how many dump loads of fill it took to fill the hole. I'd bet half the valley headed to town as soon as it was open, after all its been two weeks since some people couldn't get to the grocery or liquor store.

I did finish plying the two bobbins of a variegated red-pink, been sitting on the bobbins so long I forget what the blend is, Have 2 more of the same batch done and in the plying queue. The beast is back in action.